Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena (population 1 million) is well located about midway on Columbia’s Caribbean Coast, it is a unique city filled with sun, sea and history. It is also Columbia’s premier tourist attraction. The city is connected by a series of bridges and divided by 17th century walls into an “historic old city” and a cosmopolitan “modern city”. The City was founded in 1533 by the Spanish conquistador Don Pedro de Heredia and thanks to its strategic position had achieved considerable importance by the mid 16th Century. It soon became one of the few South American ports to export the wealth of gold and silver in particular to back to Spain.
Inevitably it attracted the attention of pirates and the Dutch, French and English all attacked the City. Sir Francis Drake, as much a pirate as anyone else, captured the town in 1586 with the aid of a thousand desperadoes and indulged in an orgy of looting and destruction in which much of the city was burnt down. Drake finally left when there was nothing else left to loot for Queen Elizabeth 1st of England. Cartagena had become the main port for the infamous slave trade and the first slave ship arrived in 1564 to send thousands of slaves all over South America.

Cartagena is one of Colombia's most visited destinations with tourists who come to enjoy the history, the sights, the weather and nightlife. Plan to stay several days, to enjoy the colonial period, the modern city and the fashionable seaside resort of Colombia's second port. Choose one of the these hotels to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.

Plan to spend several days in Cartagena, also known as Cartagena de Indias, Colombia's fascinating Caribbean resort and most popular attraction. History and nightlife, beaches and churches, a walled city and colonial architecture make it a living museum, perfect for honeymoons, family vacations and adult adventures.

Cartagena is a musical city. In the late evening, a sea breeze freshens the air and the rhythm of trotting horses blends with the laughter and singing of friends gathered in bars, clubs and public squares. Take a table outside Donde Fidel (Plaza de los Coches 32-09) and order a Club Colombia beer. Then again, to hear live music, there’s no reason to leave La Vitrola, where on most nights a talented combo performs merengue, salsa and Cuban music. Sit at the bar and sip an aguardiente, the anise-flavored drink that’s a national favorite.